A delicious, refreshing creamy milk tea. This quick and easy Thai iced tea is made with minimal ingredients! A perfect beverage to enjoy in the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-up! I also share an option to make this dairy-free.
Jump to:
What is Thai Iced Tea made of?
Thai Iced Tea is a delicious milk tea that features strong black tea from Thai tea leaves, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, hot water and ice.
This popular iced beverage comes from Thailand and you'll find it served at many Thai restaurants or all over Thailand sold by street vendors.
What gives the milk tea that iconic orange color are the tea leaves as they contain food dye.
I love making this chilled drink at home as it's super quick and easy. It's also one of my favorite beverages when I am seriously craving a caffeine fix!
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Loose Leaf Thai Tea leaves: or substitute with regular black loose leaf tea or black tea bags if you don't have a tea strainer. You can purchase Thai Tea leaves at most Asian grocers or online like on Amazon. I share an image of what Thai tea leaves are packaged in.
- Condensed Milk: or substitute with condensed coconut milk to make it dairy-free.
- Evaporated milk: or substitute with evaporated coconut milk to make this dairy-free. As a last resort, you can substitute this with 18% table cream or half and half.
- Hot Water
- Ice cubes: these are optional but recommended unless you prefer hot milk tea.
Expert Tips
- Line the tea strainer with coffee filter paper to prevent the tiny leaves from seeping into your tea. If you're using black tea bags, you can skip this.
- Steep the tea so it's a deep brown color over low-medium heat to extract as much of the tea as possible.
- Get Thai tea leaves for that orange color!
- Add as much condensed milk as you like if you prefer it much sweeter.
- Add more evaporated milk if you prefer it creamier.
- Make sure to mix the drink before enjoying it!
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make Thai iced tea:
First in a tea strainer, line it with a coffee filter to help strain out very tiny tea leaves. Do not skip. Then fill the lined tea strainer with the tea leaves. If you're using black tea bags, you can skip this step and place the bags into the small pot. Then place the strainer into the small pot and fill the pot with 2 cups of water. Bring it a boil on medium-high heat. Reduce to low-medium heat to simmer and let this steep until it's very dark brown, about 5 minutes.
Then in two separate glasses, fill them each with 1 tablespoon of condensed milk followed by divided ice cubes. If you prefer this hot, pour into a mug and skip the ice cubes.
Next once the black tea is steeped, pour into the tall glass.
Lastly, pour 1 tablespoon of evaporated milk over each glass and mix to enjoy! Finally feel free to add more condensed milk if you prefer it sweeter.
Storage
- Thai iced tea with ice is best consumed fresh as the ice will melt and dilute the tea. But if it's iceless, you can store the milk tea in an airtight container in the fridge and it'll last up to 4 days. There's no need to reheat it unless you prefer it hot, which you can microwave or reheat in a small pot.
- Freezer-friendly? I don't recommend freezing this type of milk tea as it can change the taste of the tea.
Pairing Suggestions
This chilled beverage is meant to be enjoyed on its own but you can enjoy it with:
- cookies
- pastries
- cakes or other desserts
- South-east Asian jellies or sweets
- or enjoy it for breakfast with pancakes, french toast, cereal, oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches
FAQ
I purchased mine from Amazon but you can find these tea leaves at many Asian grocery stores.
Yes, feel free to prepare each component separately and don't add in the ice cubes until you're ready to reheat the tea and serve.
Other recipes you may like!
📖 Recipe
Easy & Quick Thai Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 3 tablespoon Thai Tea leaves or sub with regular black tea leaves or decaf black tea leaves for a decaf version
- 2 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk or condensed coconut milk for dairy-free option
- 2 tablespoon evaporated milk or evaporated coconut milk for dairy-free option
- 8 ice cubes or as needed
Instructions
- First in a tea strainer, line it with a coffee filter to help strain out very tiny tea leaves. Do not skip. Then fill the lined tea strainer with the tea leaves. If you're using black tea bags, you can skip this step and place the bags into the small pot. Then place the strainer into the small pot and fill the pot with 2 cups of water. Bring it a boil on medium-high heat. Reduce to low-medium heat to simmer and let this steep until it's very dark brown, about 5 minutes.
- Then in two separate glasses, fill them each with 1 tablespoon of condensed milk followed by divided ice cubes. If you prefer this hot, pour into a mug and skip the ice cubes.
- Next once the black tea is steeped, pour into the tall glass.
- Lastly, pour 1 tablespoon of evaporated milk over each glass and mix to enjoy! Finally feel free to add more condensed milk if you prefer it sweeter.
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
The condensed and evaporated milk add so much rich deliciousness to this tea... talk about some serious yum!! 😋
Rebecca Dillon
This looks so delicious and refreshing! What a great treat for lunch or dinner.
Weeby0808
Love this. Reminds me of south east asia.
Michelle | Sift & Simmer
Mmmm looks refreshing, Christie! I've never had authentic Thai iced tea -- usually it's super bright orange with food colouring, but I love how yours is way more natural!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
How refreshing, Christie!! I've never had Thai iced tea but I'll be looking to pick up some Thai leaves 🙂